Terminal block for motors and the like



July 9, 194

J. A; DRAXLER TERMINAL BLOCK FOR MOTORS AND THE'LIKE Filed July 23, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z Q45 INVENTOR. BY JOHN A.DRAXLER.

July 9, 1946. J. A.'DRAXLER TERMINAL BLOCK FOR MOTORS AND THE LIKE Filed July 2:, 1943 2 sh s-sheet 2 INVENTOR JOHN A.DRAXLER. ,MIMQ

Patented July 9, 1946 UNITED PATENT orrics FOR MOTORS AND I John A. Draxler, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assignor.to The Elwell-Parker Electric Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio l Application July 23, 1943, Serial No. 495,940

This invention relates, as indicated, to a terminal block, but has reference more particularly to a. terminal block which is especially adapted for use in connection with the motors employed on industrial trucks for driving, lifting and other operations usually associated with such trucks.

Heretofore, it has been customary to make the motor leads of motors designed for use on industrial trucks extremely long, so a to enable the motors to be used in a wide range of ind-ustrial truck models without resorting to the undesirable practice of splicing wires. At the present time, however, and due to the shortage of critical materials, such as copper wire, the use of such long leads is highly undesirable," and, in some instances, virtually prohibitive.

The present invention, accordingly, has as its primary object the conservation of such materials by the provision of a terminal block, made of non-critical materials, and the use of which renders unnecessary the use of motor wire of extreme length. I

Another object of the invention is provide a terminal block which can be entered in either of two directions for the connection therewith of the motor wires.

A further object of the invention is to provide a terminal block and mounting therefor on a motor, the use of which greatly facilitate disassembly of certain of the motor parts.

A still further object of the invention is to pro- 4 vide a terminal block of rugged simple construc- A still further object of the invention is to pro-' vide a cable terminal of novel construction.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims; the annexed drawings and the following description setting forth in detail certain structure embodyin the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various structural forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective 'view of a terminal block made in accordance with the invention, with portions broken away to more clearly show the construction;

Fig. 2 is a view, partly in block is mounted upon a motor;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view,

4 Claims. '(Cl. 171-252) elevation, and partly I in section, showing the manner in which the showing a terminal connection to the block which is made from one side of the block;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but 'showing the terminal connection made from 5 side of the block;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the assembled lower portions of the terminal block; I

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the portions in Fig. 5;

v Fig. 'I is a plan view of the upper portion of the terminal block; I

the other shown Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the portion shown identical construction, being provided wit h tenon-like projections 6 at the bottom, which extend into the opening 3 and which conjointly substantially fill the upper portion of said opening. Each of the lower portions 5 also has a series of longitudinally spaced semi-circular recesses I in one of its vertical faces, the recessed faces of the portions 5 being in contact" with each other, and therrecesses in one portion being opposite those in the other portion, so as to cor'riointly form circular vertical holes 8 (Fig. 5)

Each of the portions 5, moreover, has a series of longitudinally-spaced semi-circular recesses! in its upper surface which extend transversely of the recesses 'l and in communication with the latter, the recesses 9 in one of the portions 5 being in registration with, the recesses 9 in the other portion 5.

The upper portion 4 of the terminal block tests directly upon the portions 5 thereof, and is provided in its lower surface with-a series of 'longitudinally-spaced transversely extending semi-circular recesses l0, which are disposed opposite the recesses 9 of the portions'i, and conjointly form with the latter, holes H, the axes of which are normal to the axes of the holes 8.

The terminal block is removably secured to the extension 2 of the motor housing by means of 55 screws l2, which extend through the ends of the block and into the flange; 4', being in threaded engagement with the latter.

The terminal block, as described above, is formed of suitable material of an electricallyinsulative character, a number of which is readiiy available.

The motor is provided witha number of wires or cables II which extend into the extension 2 of the motor housing, and are provided with metallic T-shaped terminals. generally designated by the numerals it. Each of these terminals has a socketed stem portion II which is soldered or otherwise secured to the wire it, and a tubular head portion It having a bore l1 extending therethrough. the walls of which are tapered inwardly from the ends of the head to the middle thereof.

Each of the terminals H has the stem thereof disposed in one of the holes 8 of the terminal block, and the head ll thereof disposed in one of the holes II of the block, the head It being of such a length as to terminate somewhat short 1 the reception in either end thereof 01' the taper terminals ll of wires or cables is, which lead to the motor, and which terminals are maintained in wedging engagement with the tapered walls of the bores I1 by means of screws 20, the heads of which are in abutment with washers 2 I, which are interposed between such heads and one end of the heads it of the terminals.

By using a terminal block of the aforesaid character, it becomes unnecessary to provide wires of extreme length, which are required to satisfy the requirements of installation of the motor in a wide range of industrial truck models, where splicing of wires is not desired, and moreover, it renders unnecessary the undesirable practice of splicing of wires during such installation. Moreover, the wires from the truck wiring can enter the terminal block in either of two directions, which is a highly advantageous feature, and the wedging engagement of the tapered terminais It with the tapered walls of the bores l1 insures a current path of unusually low resistance and precludes the possibility of loose connections, which occurs in cases where wires are led into an untapered cylindrical hole and clamped in position by pinching the wire with one or more machine screws, as in ordinary common practice. a

The construction of the block, moreover, is such as to greatly facilitate the disassembly of certain of the motor parts, such as the commutator pedestal.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the structure herein disclosed, provided the meansstated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a motor housing, a

of said first-named portions and having recesses therein which form holes with the recesses in said other faces, said pair of portions having tenonlike projections which extend into the motor housing to thereby prevent longitudinal or lateral displacement of the block relatively to said housing, and means removably securing the block to said housing.

2. In combination with a motor housing, a terminal block comprising a pair of members having abutting faces, said faces having recesses in registration with oneanother for forming an opening in the block, said members having recesses in other faces thereof, which recesses extend transversely relative to said opening, a third member adapted to overlie said other faces, said third member having a recess in registration with the recessesin said other faces, said housing having an opening therein, said pair of members having portions which extend into said opening whereby the walls of the opening engage said pair of members for retaining said pair of members substantially in abutting relation; and means for securing said third member to said housing.

3. A terminal structure comprising, a conductor having two cable receiving portions, one of said portions extending transversely of the other of said portions; an insulation housing for said conductor comprising apair of blocks adapted to be secured in abutting relation, said blocks having recesses therein adapted to lie in registration with one another for forming an opening for receiving one of said conductor portions, the other of said conductor portions being adapted to extend beyond said blocks; a third block adapted to overlie said pair of blocks, and having a recess therein for receiving said other portion of said conductor, the walls of said recesses being engageable with said conductor for positioning said conductor; and means for securing said pair of blocks in abutting relation and for securing the third block in overlying relation to said pair of blocks.

4. A terminal structure comprising a conductor having two cable receiving portions, one of said portions extending transversely of the other of said portions; an insulation housing for said conductor comprising a pair of blocks, each of said ond recess extending transversely relative to first recess, said one faces of said pair of blocks being in abutting relation with the recesses therein in registration with one another for forming an opening for receiving one of said portions of said conductor, the other portion of said conductor extending in said second recesses and a third block adapted to overlie said conductor and said other faces of said pair of blocks, said third block having a recess in registration with said JOHN A. DRAXLER. 

